Monday, December 31, 2012

Here is a link to our December newsletter for the Cumorah Foundation. This newsletter provides lists of recently organized stakes and districts and cities recently reached by the Church and recent church growth news. Recently posted case studies on cumorah.com are also listed and summarized.

Below is a list of the 20 most populous urban agglomerations without a reportable LDS branch or ward provided with the most recent population estimate and world ranking. Cities located in countries without a known LDS presence are indicated in bold.

Tehran, Iran - 13.6 million - 22nd

Wuhan, China - 9.2 million - 36th

Shenyang, China - 7.2 million - 45th

Ahmadabad, India - 6.85 million - 49th

Chongqing, China - 6.3 million - 54th

Khartoum, Sudan - 5.15 million - 70th

Surat, India - 5.05 million - 72nd

Alexandria, Egypt - 4.8 million - 76th

Shantou, China - 4.675 million - 79th

Harbin, China - 4.625 million - 81st

Chittagong, Bangladesh - 4.25 million - 90th

Casablanca, Morocco - 4.125 million - 95th

Kano, Nigeria - 3.8 million - 108th

Dalian, China - 3.65 million - 112th

Changchun, China - 3.575 million - 115th

Jinan, China - 3.55 million - 116th

Zhengzhou, China - 3.55 million - 116th

Damascus, Syria - 3.45 million - 122nd

Kanpur, India - 3.45 million - 122nd

Algiers, Algeria - 3.375 million - 127th

Below is a list of the 20 most populous urban agglomerations that excludes cities in China. Member reports indicate that, with possibly just a few exceptions, all agglomerations in China with over three million people have an LDS branch or group functioning. Due to the sensitive nature of the Church in China, the Church does not publish information on these congregations as they exclusively service Chinese nationals.

Tehran, Iran - 13.6 million - 22nd

Ahmadabad, India - 6.85 million - 49th

Khartoum, Sudan - 5.15 million - 70th

Surat, India - 5.05 million - 72nd

Alexandria, Egypt - 4.8 million - 76th

Chittagong, Bangladesh - 4.25 million - 90th

Casablanca, Morocco - 4.125 million - 95th

Kano, Nigeria - 3.8 million - 108th

Damascus, Syria - 3.45 million - 122nd

Kanpur, India - 3.45 million - 122nd

Algiers, Algeria - 3.375 million - 127th

Jaipur, India - 3.325 million - 128th

Lucknow, India - 3.275 million - 131st

Meshed, Iran - 2.875 million - 147th

Dakar, Senegal - 2.85 million - 148th

Aleppo, Syria - 2.85 million - 148th

Nagpur, India - 2.8 million - 154th

Pyongyang, North Korea - 2.75 million - 156th

Bamako, Mali - 2.55 million - 171st

Tashkent, Uzbekistan - 2.55 million - 171st

These 20 urban agglomerations number among the highest priority locations to open for missionary activity (when permitted) and establish congregations due to high population densities in small geographic areas that maximize outreach potential. However, few of these locations appear likely to have LDS units established within the foreseeable future. Current government restrictions on religious freedom prohibit any realistic efforts to open congregations in Tehran, Khartoum, Alexandria, Casablanca, Algiers, Meshed, Pyongyang, and Tashkent whereas political instability and/or violence against Christians prevent outreach in Kano, Damascus, Aleppo, and Bamako. Prospects appear most favorable for opening congregations and conducting missionary activity through member referral in Ahmadabad, Surat, Kanpur, Jaipur, Lucknow, Dakar, and Nagpur as other proselytizing Christian groups operate in these locations with few, if any, restrictions on their activities.

Monday, December 24, 2012

The Cariaga Philippines Stake was organized from the Carigara Philippines District. The new stake consists of five wards (Calubi-An, Capoocan, Carigara 1st, Carigara 2nd, and San Miguel) and one branch (San Isidro). The Carigara Philippines Stake becomes the fourth stake to be organized in the Philippines Tacloban Mission. The Church created its first stake in the mission in Ormoc (1999) followed by stakes in Tacloban (2007) and Catarman (2008). No other mission in the Philippines has had as many districts mature into stakes within the past decade.

The Bacoor Philippines Stake was organized from the Cavite Philippines Stake and includes five wards (Bacoor, Imus 1st, Imus 2nd, Molino 1st, and Molino 2nd). The remaining Cavite Philippines Stake includes seven wards. The Church has begun to more readily organize new wards within the Philippines Manila Mission - the mission that currently administers the area.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Within the past month, two new stakes were created in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Binza Stake was organized from the Kinshasa DR Congo Mont Ngafula and Kinshasa DR Congo Ngaliema Stakes and includes the following seven wards and one branch: The Binza, Binza Pigeon, Binza UPN, Lubudi, Musey, Nsanga Maba, and Manenga Wards and the Camp Luka Branch. The Kinshasa DR Congo Mont Ngafula Stake now includes five wards and two branches whereas the Kinshasa DR Congo Ngaliema Stake includes seven wards. The boundaries of the Kinshasa DR Congo Stake were also redrawn as a result of the creation of the new stake in Binza.

The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Mokali Stake was organized from the Kinshasa DR Congo Masina and Kinshasa DR Congo Kimbanseke Stakes and includes the following seven wards: The Du Rail, Fer Bois, Kingasani 1st, Mapela, Masina 2nd, Masina 3rd, and Siforco Wards. The Kinshasa DR Congo Masina Stake now includes six wards whereas the Kinshasa DR Congo Kimbanseke stake includes seven wards. The geographic size of the new stake numbers among the smallest in Africa due to the high population density of this area of Kinshasa. Church leaders report that church attendance at the conference to create the new stake constituted 93% of church membership of the two original stakes. The Church reports some of its highest member activity and convert retention rates in the world in the DR Congo.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Two Sundays ago, the Church created its first branch in the African country of Gabon. The Libreville Branch was organized from the Libreville Group and had 15 local members in attendance. The Church obtained government registration within the past couple months, paving the way for the organization of an official church congregation in the country. Missionaries serving in the DR Congo Kinshasa Mission report plans are underway to assign a senior missionary couple and young proselytizing missionaries to Gabon as soon as possible. Prior to assignment to the DR Congo Kinshasa Mission earlier this year, an administrative branch operated by the Africa Southeast Area serviced Gabon as a means of tracking any members residing in the country.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Over the years, members and missionaries have circulated rumors of the LDS Church preparing to assign full-time, proselytizing missionaries to mainland China. Totally unsubstantiated, these false reports have increased in their complexity and prominence within the past two months as a result of the Church lowering the minimum age for missionary service to 18 for men and 19 for women. Some members have erroneously suggested that this change in church policy has had a direct correlation with the opening of new missions in China due to the recent surge in missionary applications and the expectant rise of the full-time missionary force by the tens of thousands within the next couple years.

To illustrate the ridiculous nature of these false reports, I have indicated several points that currently prevent the assignment of foreign, full-time missionaries to mainland China.

1. Full-time missionaries that are Chinese nationals are not permitted to serve missions in mainland China.

The first Chinese national sister missionary completed her mission in 2001 whereas the first Chinese national elder missionary completed his mission in 2006. By 2010, there were approximately 100 Chinese nationals that had served a mission or that were serving missions. All mainland Chinese members who serve missions cannot serve within their home country due to religious freedom restrictions. Most of these mainland Chinese missionaries serve in the United States, Oceania, Western Europe, and elsewhere in East Asia. Rumors that North American members are receiving mission calls or special assignments to serve in mainland China are totally unsupported considering religious freedom restrictions barring formal missionary activity for both locals and foreigners. The Church cannot assign foreign missionaries to serve missions in China if indigenous members cannot serve missions within their homelands. Currently mainland China is not assigned to a proselytizing mission and is under the direct supervision of the Asia Area Presidency. Although substantial numbers of Chinese nationals have joined the LDS Church within China and abroad over the past decade, members who have joined the Church in mainland China did so within the scope of the law. These converts were referred, taught, and baptized by relatives - a practice permitted by the government.2. Chinese law mandates the segregation of Chinese nationals and foreigners in religious services.

The Church cannot assign foreign missionaries to China if government regulations prohibit foreigner-to-national proselytism and impose the segregation of Chinese nationals and foreigners in religious services. The Church has created two separate administrative systems in mainland China, one for foreigners and one for native members. Foreigner units and administrative structure is public; meetinghouse locations for branches and the times for worship services are published on the Church's online meetinghouse locator. However, there is no published presence of the names, locations, and meeting times for Chinese branches in mainland China.

3. The Church does not widely publicize its presence among Chinese nationals and maintains a sensitive presence among indigenous members in mainland China.

The Church has experienced rapid growth in mainland China over the past decade. Since 2002, estimated membership has increased from approximately 3,000 to nearly 10,000 and the number of Chinese congregations has increased from only a couple branches to scores of branches and perhaps hundreds of groups today. The Church does not publish statistical data on mainland China, including membership figures and congregational totals for non-foreigner units. The reason for the lack of information about the Church in China appears rooted in the Church's compliance with government regulations barring the intermingling of foreigners and nationals. The Church has established an excellent relationship with government officials and will continue to respect all levels of the law.

Conclusion
The assignment of full-time missionaries to mainland China will only occur once the government permits the Church to assign Chinese nationals on missions within their own country and eases restrictions on religious freedom. Foreign missionaries will only be able to serve in mainland China if the government reverses its policy on the religious assembly of foreigners and nationals. For more information on the LDS Church in China, please click here to access our country profile on cumorah.com for mainland China.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Two Sundays ago, the Church created two new stakes in Spain. Like other stakes organized in Europe in 2012, the creation of these two new stakes resulted from years and decades of slow, steady growth. No additional stakes appear likely to divide within the foreseeable future.

The Madrid Spain Center Stake was organized from the Madrid Spain East and Madrid Spain West Stakes. The new stake consists of six wards (Madrid 1st, Madrid 2nd, Madrid 5th, Madrid 6th, Madrid 8th, and Toledo) and one branch (Aranjuez). The Church created its first stake in Madrid in 1982 and its second second stake in Madrid in 1999. The Madrid Spain East Stake now includes five wards and two branches whereas the Madrid Spain West Stake now includes five wards and four branches.

The Cartagena Spain Stake was organized from the Elche Spain and Granada Spain Stakes and includes six wards (Cartagena 1st, Cartagena 2nd, Cartagena 3rd, Molina de Segura, Murcia 1st, and Murcia 2nd) and three branches (Huercal-Overa, Lorca, and Torrevieja). The creation of the new stake in Cartagena coincided with changes in the stake boundaries of the Valencia Spain Stake. The Elche Spain Stake now consists of five wards and three branches whereas the Granada Spain Stake consists of six wards and four branches and the Valencia Spain Stake consists of five wards.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

See the link below to access the November issue of our monthly newsletter for the Cumorah Foundation. The newsletter includes recent church growth developments and summarizes recently completed resources posted on the cumorah.com website.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Last Sunday, the Church created its 3,000th stake. The Church designated the Freetown Sierra Leone Stake as its 3,000th stake as several new stakes were organized last Sunday. On cumorah.com, I recently wrote an analysis on reaching the 3,000th stake milestone and factors that influence stake growth. Please click here to access the case study on Google docs. We are currently revamping the website and will post the case study on the website in the near future.

The Church reached its 1,000 stake milestone in 1979 and its 2,000 stake milestone in 1994.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Two Sundays ago, the Church created two new stakes in Queensland, Australia.

The Brisbane Australia Cleveland Stake was organized from the Brisbane Australia Stake and includes the following five wards: The Camp Hill, Capalaba, Cleveland, Holland Park, and Manly Wards. The Brisbane Australia Stake was realigned with the Brisbane Australia North and Brisbane Australia Centenary Stakes and now includes six wards.

The Coomera Australia Stake was organized from the Eight Mile Plains Australia and the Gold Coast Australia Stakes and includes the following six wards: The Beenleigh, Coomera, Helensvale, Nerang, Pacific Pines, and Windaroo Wards. Both the Eight Mile Plains Australia and the Gold Coast Australia Stakes now have six wards each.

Since 2000, the Church has created four new stakes in Australia - all of which were in the Brisbane area. Local members report that new move-ins from New Zealand and growth among Polynesians has driven growth in the area. There are now 34 stakes and nine districts in Australia.

About Me

My interest in researching the growth of the LDS Church began in 2002. I began this blog in late 2007 to provide a forum to discuss LDS growth developments and share information. I have also worked for The Cumorah Foundation since 2009 providing research assistance and resource development on LDS growth and missionary work. Since this time I have been interviewed by various media organizations and have co-authored with David Stewart our comprehensive work Reaching the Nations: International Church Growth Almanac: 2014 Edition. I have a Masters Degree in Psychology and a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Geography. I am currently working on completing my doctorate in clinical psychology.